Indicating device



Dc/ll' J. W.l ANDERSON INDICATING DEVICE Filed March Z8, 1927 @11%5565: Maf/@ Joan w. ANDERSON', or GARY', INDIANA.

fInDIcATNG DEVICE. j I' pinceau mea Maren as, 1927.' serial [Nofk v178,991#

MyV invention relatesto indicating devices A and particularly to indicating devices of the type shown and described in my copending application, Serial No. 111,345, filed May 24', 19'26. Y

One" formy of the vpresent' invention is` particularlyl .adapted to be used Vin connection! ywith the'cooling system ot an internal coinb ustionv engine and will produce a signal.y kWarning 1n advance of imminent Wastagefof cooling yli uid because ofy overheating, lan-y Wastage` is progress, andstill another and' diil'erent signal lWarning when lsuch or other Wastage has reduced lthe supply o'lcooling liquid to a predetermined level in' its con talner, and. a ,different signal when no Wast-` age of cooling liquid kthrough overheating is'` limminent or 1n process.' i Y i The invention has among itsv other objects the production of ai device of thel kind de# scribed so constructed that it may bey quickly andyeasily attached to or detached from theV filling tube of an automobileradiatorwith out injury to the overflow pipe;

Aparticular object 'ofthe invention 'is tol provide improved construction fordevicesoi' the kind Adescribed so that they-maybe pro duced in commercial quantities at a relativelyV low cost.

Another particular object of the f invention is to 'provide improved construction forV de`` vices ofthe kind described, Which construc` tion .insures that the'si-gnals given byv de'- of the ,'vehicle's-toivvhich the devices"k are tachedi To this end l myr invention consists in' novel construction, arrangement andjcombi-'- nation of parts herein shown and described,

lFigQS is la sectionftaken on lineS--Bv of .i Fig. 1 ;'and Y yReferring for the. present toFigs. 1 3,5

, rig', 41S a vertical aanmaken ihreugh aff j device embodying another 'formiof' the ini ventlon.

inclusive, the lreference,character 10 desigff` hates-generally a radiator ot-the type com-f] monly employed in' automobiles,or the like,

only aportion of the yradiator being shovv'nfas Ye5 v l Y l v theinvention does not vrelate to the const rc v other and iiferent signal Warning when such tion thereof. The radiator-10' is 'provided with the usual iilling tubel12 `and with the' 1 usual overflow tube' 14,' the construction being t tube 12 andis disposed substantially cfeIitial-j"v ly' thereof." The upper end of the filling" tube 1 2`is normally closed cap` 15 which is i preferably screvvthreaded upon `the filling 2 tubeia.Screvvlhreadd into the cap land men'i'ber 17 extendingdown into the radiator projecting downward-therefrom isa tubular? l 10 to point' "'loelovvv thefnorlnal maximum liquid level thereinv which may be saidto beV approximately co-i'ncidentvvi'ththe lower end 1 ofthe o iierfloivv tube 14." Infthe preerredeni-ff* bo'diment "of the invention, the tubular lkrinein-g 1 ber' 17"preera`bly projects'intof the' radiatrrlA to v:1 .jpo`int approximately coincidentlwith the normal minimuniil liquid le'vel; therein, "the" normal minimum liquidflevel being thelevell-Y- l engine'of the a-uton'iobilje' tofi'unction eifrcient radiator' or Iv may prefer to omit the tubular i"member"entirely as hereinafter explained.

` at' which thereissuilicient liquidfin the cooly j ingsy'stemto permit the internal `combustion o vicesWill invariably benoted` by the drivers V9o z lyalthough afless'anrountof liquidvvillpermit the engine-'to` heatvup -to an Vundes'ir'ablej` temperature. 'Ho'wever in some instances; I1* may prefer' to havethe' tubular member 17"V terminate ,a relatively short distance belovv` .the normal maximum 4liq'iiid level'inf-the and morejparticularly pointedout` inthe ably providedupon the tubular member'l? 100" claims.' f j l I* for locking" it againstaccidental displacen,

In the drawings, wherein like .reference ment relatveto the Cap l5. Y characters indicate like or corresp'on di'ng^ Formed inthe cap`-15 is ai central opening] parts: g Y 'f 21'u'hi'cln-atitslowerend,ispreferablyenfi 50 1 Fg. 1 is a vertical central section taken )through4 a device embodying "the invention,

1 projecting through the op enin-g21 isan domey the de vice being f shoWn' in connection with ory hollow member 24 Vwhich lis preferably? the filling tube of an automobile radiator i formed of glass, or theequivalent, the Vmein-f, Fig; 2 isa section taken on line 2-2' 'of ber'24`havingitslovver end open so thatfluid l Fig.g1; Y y f may pass iromthetubular member 17 finto y '11.9.

larged as at 221:0 provide-aishoulder-Qfand 105,. I

`tance up into the hollow member'. the bead 30 may be soldered to the disc 25C as indicated at 32. y, The lower end of the tube the member 24 through apertures 25 provided in a dise 25C. y The hollow member 24 is provided with an outwardly extending annular flange 26 which projects mto the annular portion 22 of the opening 21, the construction being such that the tubular member 17 cooperates with the disc 25c and a packing ring 27 to clamp the flange 26 to the cap 15. It is readily understood that the disc 25C serves as a .baille and retards the flow of vapor and liq- 24. This reduces wastage of the cooling'liquid through the overflow tube.

Projecting through a central aperture 28 lprovided in the disc 25s is a tube 29 which preferabl extends from `a point adjacent the up er enc of the hollow member 24 to a point be ow the disc 25C, the tube 29 being preferably provided with an outwardly extending annularbead 30 intermediate its ends to prevent it from beingv forced an undesirable dis- If desired,

29 is preferably flared as at 34 to receive a frustro-conical end provided upon a funnel-shaped member 36 which is also preferably provided with an outwardly extending annular bead 37 .y The annular bead 37 seats inan annular groove 39 provided in the tubular member 17, the construction being such that the funnel-shaped member 36 is held against longitudinal displacement relative to the tubularl member 17. It will be noted that the overflow tube 14 projects up into and seats in the frustrdconical end 35 of the funnel-shaped member 36. Formed in thefrustro-conical end 35 belowthe upper end of the overflow tube 14 are apertures 40 through which fluid may pass from the interior of the radiator 10 up into the hollow member 24. The funnel-shaped member 36 alsol serves as a baille and reduces wastage of the cooling liquid through the overflow tube. It may be mentioned at this oint in the description that thelower end of tile overflow tube 14 communicates with the atmosphere so that fluid may pass from the radiator into the hollow member 24 and then be discharged from the cool- Y the member 24, the funnel-shaped member 36 and the tube 29 may be removed as a unit from V`the filling tube 12 when the supply of cooling liquid in the radiator is to be replenished. Then after the supply of cooling liquid has been replenished, the cap may be screwthreaded again upon thelling tube and the `frustro-conical end 35 of the funnel-shaped member 36 will seat upon the upper end of the overflow `tube 14. It will be noted that an aperture or vent 42 isprovided in the wall of the tubular member 17. The purpose of this construction will presently appear.

l )The operation of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, resembles the operation ofthe apparatus shown in the aforementioned copending application and is substantially as follows: assuming that the automobile upon which the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, is mounted is in operation and that it is operating insuch manner that the temperature of the cooling fluid does not approach the boiling point, there will be substantially no indication of any kind in the glass member 24. However, if for any reason, the temperature ofthe cooling fluid approaches its boiling point, a solid column of water will appear in the glass member 24, it being assumed that thetubular member 17 projects below the liquid level in the radiator. The column of water extending into the. glass member 24 rises and falls irregularly and at times may disappear from the glass until the cooling fluid boils with sufficient violence to create a relatively high ressure within the radiator.` Then a steacy llow of liquid through the glass member `24V will be ob-5 served, this liquid being discharged from theV cooling system through the tube 29 and the overflow tube 14 which communicates preferably directly with tlie atmosphere. If the driver of the automobile heeds the warning and slows down or stops the engine or corrects any other condition which may be causing the abnormal condition within the radiator, the boiling ceases and the cooling fluid ceases to waste through the overflow tube 14. It may be mentioned that as long as the tubular member 17 extends below the liquid level in the radiator andthe overflow tube :14, the water glass shows plainly a steady flow of cooling :fluid in appreciable amount of bub` bles or irregularities of anykind.

If the driver does not heed this warning and the operation of the engine is continued Without modification, the cooling liquid wastes through the overflow tube 14 until the liquid level in the radiator falls belowV the" lower end of the tubular member 17 whereupon Asteam or a mixture of steam and li uid wastes thrOu h the tube 29 and the over ow tube 14, the violent churning liquid and steam being readily observable inthe glass 24 instead of the aforementioned column of liquid.

liquidpis wasted to such anextent thatany further waste thereof will be accompanied by serious damage to the engine by overheat:

l ing. Briefly, the stages are as follows:

Vrllhe first stage :riff-romatmospherictempera; tureto normal operating temperature. {Dur-r ing `thisk stage, `the Y cooling liquid does .not

v reach'the .boiling pointanddoes not/Waste andV therefore,- the glass(l member 24 ,remains clear. Thissigniies that the operating cone:

vditions are 'normal inso far. as any special;l

attention of thefoperatorris `requiredil temperature to l simmering temperature and' a substantially unbroken colurnnwi'll theniappear in the glassfmemberv 24,` the height oi'.

the leolun'in fluctuatingl in' the `manner dre-Y scribed above. b I

The third stage: from simmering temperature creating comparatively slight pressure to activeboiling which causes wastage Gif-coole ing fluidbecause of the. comparativelyhigh pressure produced in the radiator.` The glass member 24 the-n becomes completelyffil'led with an unbroken: columnoi' liquidi-lowing therethroughjand 'Wasting th rough the over-y iovv' tube 14.y l .Y v f A 'The four-th stage: from active boiling and Wasting of a' still` adequate suppllyof cooling liquid to comparatively overheated steaml -lng andiva'sting of a boiling liquid. After suiicient cooling liquid has' wastedkk throughthe overflow tube' 14 to bringfthe liquid 'level Vivithinthe radiatorfbeloiv the lower endjoi' the tubular vmember 17,' the* glass member24 Y shows violentlychu-rnings'teame'and Water v passing therethrough. This signalisreadily distinguished fromztheother three described and indicates that the cause oi' overheating has notbeen corrected. l' Thisiourth signalv i will be given independently 'of anyotheiv sigf nal whenever .the level of the cooling' liquid -is belowgthe bottom end of the tubular member conditions remain normaland no boiling-oc'- curs sometime` afterl theflevel of that i sup. ply falls below the bottom end ofthe tubular *member .17 boiling of the cooling' liquid will occur 'and theV 4thI- Warning' signal will be given to the operator. 1 Y Sinceexhaustion of its reserve su-ppliy 'of cooling liquid must precede any serious dam y age tothe automobile fromoverheating, separate'easily differentiated and hi'hly visible!` signals orindications relative tothe above thepoint of actual cooling iiuid.

pointedoutabovd they disc`259 andthe* funnel'shaped men'iberr not only position.r the'tube 29 and cooperate with the overflowU tube 14,: resp'ecti-vely` i but also tend to retard Y f the "flow of W'aterthroughfthe-tubular memberl7.`, 'lllifis-isfadvantageous in'that long' .s ast-he. operator visigiven: a .signalV that liquid i l For instance; "if due to av` lealin thei'af@A diator al supply of cooling liquid adequate at" the beginning of the trip is reduced and livh'ileflture 21a;

andthe overflow tube-114, Y l -As set forthV above,\it maybe advisable in is beingwasted 'fronrithel cooling systemgiit j is notnecessary todischargeia-relativelylarge Q amount of liquid'therefrom. Obviously, the supply'iof coolingliquidis conserved. I The' vaforementioned aperture for vent 42 i providediin the tubular member' 17 insures-f` that siphonic action willinot setup `through j v 'I the tubular membery 17,1'y the glass rnemberf244 i. The second stag-erfrom normaloperating some instances; to dispense -Withthe 4tubular `I member 17 and the funnelL-shaped member..` i In that event, the tube 29 may be Jsolderedto vf the-Washer 26? in such manne-r that ,the upper" i end of the overflovvvtube 14 Will Seat` inthe flared` end 34 thereof. 7The abovek described.` f, y' signals Will then appear inthe glass memberA Y 24 ina-mannerfresembling that in Whichtheyfr`- appear when v"the tubular Y member and the I hollovvesha-ped'.nfiember` are employed, -but ofv lcoursefthechurning signal will Vappear much earlier during theWasting/of thecoolingi liquid. lfthe liquidlevelinlthe radiatorfjML- is'relativelyflow it will probablyliappen that no column of liquidvvill pass through. the-Q glassimember 24 butthat the initial signalof` abnormal .conditionsavill be .a flow' oiJ-st'ean'i` through the glassmember'..i Oi cou.rse,'if threlT conditions-fof -operations..=are not corrected this signal. will .be followed immediately by the churning signal;

j Figsl to 3inclusive, the reference' character l()a designates-.a radiatorI Whiicnmay be sub- Referring toFig. 4'-,=Wherein1 have shown loof stantially identical Witliithe aforementioned radiator VlOandpreferablycomprises a'irllingl v V tube l2EL whichiis substantiallyiidenticalwith the aforementioned filling tube 12.1 A capi?)a scrieW-threa'dedwuponfthe upper end" of the filling tube 12.*1xis*provided` with/a central@ Aaperture21.41 Whichisfenlargedfatits upperV end asindicatedf Vait-45am#aocommoldateY an' V apertured disc 254,121, pack-ingring. 2-7fi'an`d an? 'annullarxliarrgei26r the annular:flange:26a` be? ing formedv'ne'gral with alhollowmember 24"* `r which is' preferably madeof'glassA oivsome: other transparent.:material.ii Secured to the cap' 15'.l by oneormore screivs-475forthe equivalent, 'is an arcuateplate. 48.W"l1-fich holds" j the flangew26a: againstthe packing ring 27a andtfholds the paelzing'ringandthedisc 25Va in vplace inthe enlarged 'portion 45 of theaper'- Screw-threa'dedv into the capi 15ar and projecting'downwarditherefrom is Ial tubularmember 17a Whichiisz locked' byv a-nut 19a against' .accidental dis-placement' relative n to "the cap. .tube 29@l ywhich projects throughgfa' central aperturey 28%provided in tovreceivei a frustroi-'eoni'eal end 3521 provided.v f'

nular. bead 30a' which prevents. the' tube 29 from being forced an undesirable distance up into the glass member `24a. The funnelshaped member 36' is preferably provided with an outwardly extending annular bead .37 which engages an annular groove 39a provided in the tubular member 17", the construction being such that the tube 29 and the funnel-shaped member 36 are held in place within the tubular member 17 The radiator l()a is `provided with an voverflow tube 14", the upper end of which is centrally disposed in the filling tube 12a. and is adapted to seat in the i frustro-conical `end 35 of the funnelshaped member 36a. x

Obviously, 'the operation of the device shown in Fig. 4 is substantially identical with the operation of the device shown in Figs. l to 3, inclusive. Butin the device shown in Fig. 4, `the glass member 24' may be quickly and easily replaced if the arcuate plate 48 is first removed from the cap 15a. Inthe device illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, the tubular member 17 must be removed from the cap 15 before the glass member 24 can be replaced. i

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as. liniiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, or uses mentioned. A

lVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by 4Letters Patent is: l

1.1The combination with an automobile radiator having` a filling opening, and an overflow tube, the upper end of theoverflow tube being centrally disposed in said filling opening, a cap for said filling opening, a transparent hollow member carried by said cap and concentrically` disposed with said upper end of said overflow tube, said hollow member communicating with the interior of said radiator, means for retarding the flow of fluid into said hollow member, and tubular means projecting into said hollow member and communicating with said overflow tube, said tubular means being carried by said cap.

2. An indicating device of the kind described com'prising aclosure member for the filling opening of an automobile radiator provided with an over-How pipe having its upper end centrallypositionedin said opening,a substantially transparent hollow member centrally positioned in said closure member and projecting thereabove, said hollow inem ber being apertured at its lower end, a tube centrally positioned in said closure member and projecting up into Y said transparent hollow member, the tube having an opening at its upper end whereby itcommunicates with the interior of the hollow member and the lower end of the tube being adapted to `substantially close the `upper end of the overflow pipe against direct communication with with the interior of the radiator, and tubular means extending downwardly from the vlower' end of said trans arent hollow member and encircling said tu e, said tubular means eX- tending below the upper end of the overflow pipe and the internal diameter-'thereof being l member and projecting thereabove, said hollow member being apertured at its lower end, a tube centrally positioned in said closure member and projecting up into said trans` parent hollow member, the tube having an opening at its upper end whereby it communicates with the interior of the hollowmember and the lower end of the tube being adapted to substantially close the upper end of the overfiow pipe against direct commulow member and encirclinglthe tube, saidA tubular means extending below the normal maximum water level 1n the radiator and the internal diameter thereof being larger-` than the external diameter of the tube and the pipe.

nication with the interior ofthe radiator,

4. The combination with an automobile Y radiator having a filling opening, and an overflow tube, a transparent member conimunicating withsaid opening and said over-` 5An indicating device ofthe kind de'A scribed comprisin an apertured closure member for the filing 'opening of an auto` mobile radiator provided with an overfiow pipe, a4 substantially transparent hollow member mounted on said closure member and arranged to communicate with the interior of said radiator, and means including tubular means provided with a flaring mouth adapted to seat upon. the upper edge of' said overfiow `pipe for operatively connecting said hollow member to said overflow pipe so that` vapor or liquid passing into said hollow member from the interior of' said radiator may be discharged through said overflow pipe. Y

6. An indicating device of thekind described comprising an a rtured closure member for the filling opening of an automobile radiator provided with an overiiow pipe, a substantiallyv transparent hollow member mounted on said closure member and f `arranged to communicate Awith the interior `stituting a bale'for retarding the flow of fluid from said radiator into said hollowV of said radiator, means'whereby said hollow member `may discharge liquid-into-said over'- low pipe, and a plurality ofy spaced means `or retarding the flow of vapor and liquid tubular means projecting through the closure member and adapted to be removed from the radiator as a unit with the elosuremem-l ber, said-tubular means projeetinginto said hollow member and communicating with said overflowV tube, and means disposed at the lower end of said tubular means and conmember.

8. yln combination; with anl automobile Y radiator having afilling opening and yan Y overiow tube, the upper end of said overiiow tube being centrally disposed in said vfilling V30 opening, a cap' Jfor said filling opening, a

vhollow transparent member Carriedr by said cap, tubular means communicating withsaid transparent memberandextending? into said v radiator below the normal liquid level thereoi', and tubular means projecting through the cap ywhereby said transparent member eoimnuni'cates with said overflow tube, said e i last namedtubular means being carried by said cap. y K

9. In combination with an automobile radiator having a filling opening and an overiiow tube, the upper end of' the overow tube-being centrally disposed in" said filling' L 45 'n l opening, a eap for said, iilling opening, a transp-arent hollow member carried by said.

cap', :tubular means Communicating with said transparent member and extendinginto said radiator below the,y normal liquid level thereoi', and-tubular means `communicating with Ithe upper end of said overflow tube and with the interiorV of said transparent member',

saidlast named tubular means being carriedy Y by said eap.

signed my name.

, Jol-IN w. ANnnRsoNfvf In testimony whereof, I have hereunto 55 v, 

